Rush is moving to Costa Rica? - Page 7

**Reba** · 03-11-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souggy

Quit twisting words.

Obama was going to be a lawyer before his wife convinced him to become a politician and a writer.

So Obama does earn more as a politician and writer than he did as a lawyer?

So he didn't sacrifice a high-paying attorney position to become a politician, correct?

Lighthouse77 · 03-11-2010, 11:38 AM

I thought all rich people retire on the beach and such.

**Reba** · 03-11-2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighthouse77

I thought all rich people retire on the beach and such.

**TXgolfer** · 03-11-2010, 11:42 AM

President Obama's 2008 Income Tax Returns - The New York Times

The return for 2008.

souggy · 03-11-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

So Obama does earn more as a politician and writer than he did as a lawyer?

So he didn't sacrifice a high-paying attorney position to become a politician, correct?

Half-right.

If you look at Koko's source:

Quote:

From 2000 to 2004, the Obamas had earned an average of about $250,000 a year. But their taxable income surged to $1.6 million in 2005 and $983,826 in 2006.

I remember when people on gameFAQs and IGN were hyped over Obama in 2000 for some reason. The excitement surged in 2005 or 2006 or so when it was rumoured he was going to run for president before it was confirmed in 2007. We can assume he get most of his book sales from his publicity as a result of the announcement and or rumour.

03-11-2010, 11:49 AM

Oh man... I thought this thread was about Rush the canadian power trio band. which by the way... THEY ROCK!!

souggy · 03-11-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockdrummer

Oh man... I thought this thread was about Rush the canadian power trio band. which by the way... THEY ROCK!!

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souggy

Quit twisting words.

Obama was going to be a lawyer before his wife convinced him to become a politician and a writer around 1996 or so.

Obama got start in civil rights practice - Boston.com

Not twisting words here. He did in fact get a pay raise from being a senator to now a president.

souggy · 03-11-2010, 12:00 PM

U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > People > Senators > Senate Salaries since 1789

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:01 PM

Prediction: Moment of Frustration Will Expose Our Young President
Prediction: Moment of Frustration Will Expose Our Young President

souggy · 03-11-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Not twisting words here. He did in fact get a pay raise from being a senator to now a president.

That is a given, but it is what he could had made as a lawyer versus having a political career if he never got lucky enough to be chosen to be president.

**TXgolfer** · 03-11-2010, 12:04 PM

Here's hoping he gets a very big raise in 2013

I hear after office memoirs pay well!

souggy · 03-11-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souggy

U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > People > Senators > Senate Salaries since 1789

Not the most reliable source (I don't think), but I gotta run out to do a business meeting soon:

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/..._Lawyer/Salary

**Jiro** · 03-11-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Prediction: Moment of Frustration Will Expose Our Young President
Prediction: Moment of Frustration Will Expose Our Young President

not sure how is that related to Rush moving to Costa Rica rumor.

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXgolfer

Here's hoping he gets a very big raise in 2013

I hear after office memoirs pay well!

Certainly cheaper than the alternative in seeing a country go broke.

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

not sure how is that related to Rush moving to Costa Rica rumor.

It's about Rush.

**Jiro** · 03-11-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

It's about Rush.

so is there somewhere in the article you posted that talks about Rush moving to Costa Rica?

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:25 PM

Like I said, it's about Rush.

**Jiro** · 03-11-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Like I said, it's about Rush.

this thread's about Rush is moving to Costa Rica? with a big question mark at the end of the sentence. You can go ahead and make a new thread about Rush & Obama with that article you just posted.

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:33 PM

Less of the quibbling now.

Quote:

CALLER: Oh, yeah, right. (laughing) But listen, as an employee of an insurance company, we got our benefit booklets this week and guess what we're doing now? We have set up facilities in Costa Rica and we are paying 100% of all medical charges associated with heart valve replacement, bypass surgeries, knee replacements, hip replacements, and spinal fusion if you travel to Costa Rica to have it done. Now, it does not cover the travel expenses.

RUSH: Hold it a minute. No, no, no. You gotta start at the beginning. You call here and say your company is writing policies now, and you have set up facilities in Costa Rica.

CALLER: Yes, sir.

RUSH: What kind of facilities has your insurance company set up?

CALLER: Well, the insurance company is hoping to set up hospital surgical centers in Costa Rica.

RUSH: Wait a minute. Your insurance company is going to build hospitals?

CALLER: Well, no, they're partnering with people who do that --

RUSH: All right. So your insurance company --

CALLER: -- who build these facilities.

RUSH: -- in Costa Rica, and you're going to pay 100% of all medical charges associated with heart valve replacement, bypass surgeries, knee replacements, hip replacements, spinal fusion if you travel to Costa Rica?

CALLER: Yep. And we've even got a travel agency who helps arrange the travel arrangements for coming back after you had those kind of procedures.

RUSH: So your company is insuring itself against the House health care bill and Obamacare by setting up essentially offshore medical centers?

CALLER: We most certainly are.

RUSH: How do you make money here if you're going to pay 100% of all of these procedures' costs?

CALLER: You know, I don't know the details to that. I just learned about it this week so I can't tell you that, but I do know the money is going to come in from investments and other ways insurance companies make money, we don't just gather our premiums and put them in a back account.

RUSH: Yes, I understand that. So this is your way of opting out of Obamacare and not being put out of business. So if I happen to want a knee replacement or need one, all I gotta do is contact you, find a way to get myself to Costa Rica via your travel agency, and everything is picked up a hundred percent based on whatever my policy with you costs?

CALLER: Exactly. There's no deductible, no coinsurance, no copay. So they're going to decapitate --

RUSH: Wait a minute, wait a second, now, you can't just gloss over this stuff, Stacy. You're going to have to explain how this can be done. No deductible, no copay, 100% -- you know, I have great empathy. That's why I'm a great host, and I can tell you many in the audience are not buying this.

CALLER: Well, I can e-mail you a link to our sub-department that's handling these arrangements and you can post it. It's out there. It's on the Web.

RUSH: No, no. They believe what you're saying. They don't believe that there's no deductible, that there's no copay, 100% covered. The only thing they don't know is what does this cost 'em.

CALLER: Well, it's going to be your standard policy. I mean it's not going to be necessarily any cheaper, but what it will be is your procedure when you need it without standing in line. That's what it's going to be.

RUSH: And it will still be cheaper than the House bill and you'll be guaranteed to get treated.

CALLER: Absolutely. So, you know, they can decapitate the doctors all they want. And, incidentally, the House bill, the bundling only applies to hospitals. Specialists are also going to be decapitated. It's going to be done in a geographic region or something to that effect. But the decapitation is in there --

RUSH: I gotta jump in here again. For those of you in Rio Linda, we're not actually talking about the guillotine here.

CALLER: (laughing)

RUSH: Well, with this administration you never know what some people would believe.

CALLER: Well, this is true. I mean I wouldn't have believed that Holder is going to bail out newspapers by bringing terrorists into New York City to have show trials.

RUSH: Why did you choose Costa Rica?

CALLER: I have no idea why they did that. You know, I'm a business analyst. I don't work in the marketing and all of that. I work on computer systems. But I'll be happy to e-mail you the benefit booklet if you will take off all identification information, you know, blank it out and I'll be happy to e-mail it to you and you can post it. It's right there. Now, you'll still have to have your physical therapy, all that stateside. But for these high dollar procedures, it is less than half the cost to do it in Costa Rica.

RUSH: Ah. Okay, there's the answer I was looking for: Less than half the cost than under the House bill.

CALLER: Absolutely.

RUSH: Now, does that mean Costa Rican doctors and nurses or are you also going to hire American doctors who want to opt out and not get decapitated in Medicare and relocate 'em to Costa Rica?

CALLER: I have a feeling that it won't take a lot to lure highly trained, highly specialized physicians to a sunny tropical island to be paid the amount that they're worth to do what they love to do.

RUSH: It's actually not an island but it is tropical, and it is an up-and-coming vacation destination for the truly enlightened.

CALLER: And you know we've been doing this with dental for a number of years. You can have full dental work done at a third of the cost there so a lot of people have been doing that, but this is the first I've seen of these very precise, very high-tech procedures that they're going to offer. And you know how we're going to make our killing, Rush? Even if it's only $50 per person that we make as a net profit, there are going to be so many people trying to get out of the government plan and get what they need done and get it now that they'll be beating our doors down.

RUSH: Yeah. I can see that. I'm just worried here that now that you've made this public, you know the bill still hasn't been amended. (laughing)

CALLER: But, you know, hey, Harry Reid --

RUSH: I mean don't be surprised if they put a provision: "You may not leave the country for health care services."

CALLER: Well, but Harry Reid's already got it on the Senate schedule. He can't change it that much or they'll never get it through this year. So go ahead, guys, feel free. But you know what I love, Rush, all of us little peons here just doing our thing are so much smarter than those guys up there. They think they've got us between a rock and a hard place. Ha. You watch us.

RUSH: That is a great thing about entrepreneurism. People always find a way around these people and the obstacles they put in the way. It's just a shame that has to happen, but yours is a great illustration of how that happens.

CALLER: Oh, you know, we make it work. So I hope you have a fabulous Friday and I'm so glad your cochlear implant got fixed.

RUSH: Well, thanks very much. (laughing) You're just a pistol.

CALLER: Well, I try.

RUSH: It's on the fritz here again. I'm having to slap the thing silly when it starts going out on me.

CALLER: Hey, you better get that off the web cam. The next thing you know Marco will have it on his website as you're a masochist or something.

RUSH: (laughing) You know how they are.

RUSH: Oh, yeah, absolutely. All right, look, I appreciate it, Stacy. Stay in touch. Oh. Stay on hold. We have a super-secret e-mail address.

CALLER: Oh!

RUSH: I do want to see this pamphlet.

CALLER: Okay, sure!

RUSH: All right.

CALLER: I'll have it to you tonight.

RUSH: Just hold on, don't hang up.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: E-mails are pouring in to me, folks, from website subscribers who know all about Costa Rica. We're all Costa Ricans now! It's fine and dandy, except the Canadians have to leave, too, and they come here. But I'm learning all kinds of things. There are now vacation surgical tours. You need a minor surgery, you schedule it to a vacation spot. The costs are much less, you go for two weeks, you get your recoup time, you come back, bammo! Just a couple sample e-mails here. "Dear Rush..." This is from Blake Hibbard. "Costa Rica health care costs are about a quarter of what they are here. Good private doctors. I go there a lot. There are always women on the planes coming home who have had plastic surgery. "Ten grand there buys you the whole deal: Face, boobs, lipo, et cetera." Lipo! The whole deal, ten grand.

Another one: "Costa Rica has the highest percentage of US trained doctors in Latin America. Relocation of doctors is possible, but you need to be board certified in Costa Rica and join the national College of Medicine. It takes time but you can get highly competent doctors and state-of-the-art private hospitals for a fraction of the cost of the USA," Benicio Lines, Coral Gables, Florida. There are thousands of them that have poured in here. And I had no idea, because I don't go to the doctor anyway, wherever he is. See what you learn on this program? Folks, I'm going to tell you something. When the host learns something, it's big, 'cause I know most everything that's important to know -- and I've learned something I didn't know today. That's a grand-slam, home run of a show.

Costa Rica: Stacy's Insurance Company Makes Obamacare Plans

Now, with a better context behind why he said he'd go to Costa Rica a few days ago for medical treatment.

**Jiro** · 03-11-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Less of the quibbling now.

Costa Rica: Stacy's Insurance Company Makes Obamacare Plans

Now, with a better context behind why he said he'd go to Costa Rica a few days ago for medical treatment.

very interesting! Rush's right about one thing - I'm not buying this

but this is something I should look more into to demystify it.

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:41 PM

He's making a point and that is medical tourism is growing because it's cheaper to do so.

**Jiro** · 03-11-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

He's making a point and that is medical tourism is growing because it's cheaper to do so.

India's doing same thing too. I see that he's making a point and it's a very interesting point but I want to make sure he's not making a point with obfuscation and distortion.... something that he's notorious for.

do you happen to have a link to that Costa Rica medical stuff mentioned in that interview?

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:47 PM

No.

kokonut · 03-11-2010, 12:48 PM

Google

**Jiro** · 03-11-2010, 12:53 PM

Costa Rica - Health Care

Quote:

The Costa Rican healthcare system is rated very highly on an international level, and the country’s citizens enjoy the health and life expectancy equal to that of more developed nations. These accolades come courtesy of strong, universal health insurance and excellent public and private hospitals.

Costa Rica’s public health insurance system, commonly known as the Caja, is available country-wide to all citizens and legal residents. There are ten major public hospitals – four in San Jose, including the Children’s Hospital – affiliated with the Caja. For non-emergencies and everyday medical care, small clinics, known as EBAIS (pronounced ay-vy-ice), are located in almost every community.

Quote:

Public Health Care - Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)
Costa Rica’s public health insurance system, commonly known as the Caja, is available country-wide to all citizens and legal residents. There are ten major public hospitals – four in San Jose, including the Children’s Hospital – affiliated with the Caja. For non-emergencies and everyday medical care, small clinics, known as EBAIS (pronounced ay-vy-ice), are located in almost every community.

The cost to affiliate with CCSS is approximately 10 to 11.5% of your income; alternatively, residents may become members via ARCR, which provides a streamlined and simple joining process. Please note that for those under age 55, Caja payments include a mandatory pension payment, which will be disbursed beginning at age 65. Keep in mind that the Caja’s low cost and high quality attract many to its hospitals and clinics, and wait times are long for anything from a routine checkup to an important surgical procedure.

Quote:

Private Insurance
Note: Before the 2008 ratification of CAFTA (the Central American Free Trade Agreement), Costa Rica operated under a government-owned monopoly insurance system. In 2009, international insurance providers began to offer health insurance within Costa Rica.

Costa Rica’s private hospitals and clinics offer high-quality medical care at a tiny fraction of its U.S. equivalent cost. In fact, due to Costa Rica’s beautiful surroundings, medical reputation and very lost costs, the country is rapidly becoming a prime destination for medical tourism.

As of 2009, private insurance is available through INS, the government-owned insurance monopoly. Most plans cover dental work, optometry, and cosmetic surgery in the case of an accident, and neither pre-existing conditions nor annual check-ups are included. Prescription drugs, certain medical exams, sick visits and hospitalization are covered at 70% cost, and surgeon and aesthetician costs are covered at full cost. Currently, private medical insurance costs about $50-$100/month per person, depending on age, gender and other factors.

In addition to INS insurance, expats may also purchase international health care insurance from abroad, which will cover most private hospital costs. Be aware that these plans often cost more than their INS equivalents.

**TXgolfer** · 03-11-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Less of the quibbling now.

Costa Rica: Stacy's Insurance Company Makes Obamacare Plans

Now, with a better context behind why he said he'd go to Costa Rica a few days ago for medical treatment.

This makes the blog sites look bad....real bad

The caller appears to be an idiot (thinks Costa Rica is an Island) that doesn't realize the private health care in Costa Rica is top notch.

It is true though, that as of 2009 Costa Rica is open to international insurers. I can't even buy insurance from Oklahoma.

It makes no sense that congress is resistant to trying free or cheap health care reform options first.

**Jiro** · 03-11-2010, 12:55 PM

wondering if my medical insurance would pay for it if I go to Costa Rica

**sequoias** · 03-11-2010, 12:57 PM

I'm not too surprised about Costa Rica being one of the medical tourism attractions. My friend had dental work down there and he said it's very cheap and they did a great job. I guess some people are judging Costa Rica by the cover of the book. You really have to see the country to see what it is really like there. You can ask my friend who visited there last year and he will tell you the story. He's going to visit there again next month as well. There is a pretty good number of deaf people living there as well.

**TXgolfer** · 03-11-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

Costa Rica - Health Care

They also have very nice private hospitals

03-11-2010, 11:38 AM	#182 (permalink)
Lighthouse77 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,167	I thought all rich people retire on the beach and such. __________________ Good thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

03-11-2010, 12:00 PM	#189 (permalink)
souggy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 9,541	U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > People > Senators > Senate Salaries since 1789 __________________ "It is my task to convince you not to turn away because you don’t understand it." - Richard Freynman

03-11-2010, 12:01 PM	#190 (permalink)
kokonut Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 15,348	Prediction: Moment of Frustration Will Expose Our Young President Prediction: Moment of Frustration Will Expose Our Young President __________________ Before AD. After AD. "Restriction on free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." -Thurgood Marshall, former Supreme Court Justice "... turns out they are telling the truth."

03-11-2010, 12:25 PM	#198 (permalink)
kokonut Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 15,348	Like I said, it's about Rush. __________________ Before AD. After AD. "Restriction on free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." -Thurgood Marshall, former Supreme Court Justice "... turns out they are telling the truth."

03-11-2010, 12:41 PM	#202 (permalink)
kokonut Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 15,348	He's making a point and that is medical tourism is growing because it's cheaper to do so. __________________ Before AD. After AD. "Restriction on free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." -Thurgood Marshall, former Supreme Court Justice "... turns out they are telling the truth."

Today
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03-11-2010, 11:42 AM	#184 (permalink)
TXgolfer Dream Weaver Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Everywhere Posts: 17,636	President Obama's 2008 Income Tax Returns - The New York Times The return for 2008.

03-11-2010, 11:49 AM	#186 (permalink)
rockdrummer Guest Posts: n/a	Oh man... I thought this thread was about Rush the canadian power trio band. which by the way... THEY ROCK!!

03-11-2010, 12:04 PM	#192 (permalink)
TXgolfer Dream Weaver Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Everywhere Posts: 17,636	Here's hoping he gets a very big raise in 2013 I hear after office memoirs pay well!

03-11-2010, 12:47 PM	#204 (permalink)
kokonut Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 15,348	No. __________________ Before AD. After AD. "Restriction on free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." -Thurgood Marshall, former Supreme Court Justice "... turns out they are telling the truth."

03-11-2010, 12:48 PM	#205 (permalink)
kokonut Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 15,348	Google __________________ Before AD. After AD. "Restriction on free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." -Thurgood Marshall, former Supreme Court Justice "... turns out they are telling the truth."

03-11-2010, 12:55 PM	#208 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 60,513	wondering if my medical insurance would pay for it if I go to Costa Rica __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

03-11-2010, 12:57 PM	#209 (permalink)
sequoias Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Iowa, the land of the cornfields and pigs Posts: 21,865	I'm not too surprised about Costa Rica being one of the medical tourism attractions. My friend had dental work down there and he said it's very cheap and they did a great job. I guess some people are judging Costa Rica by the cover of the book. You really have to see the country to see what it is really like there. You can ask my friend who visited there last year and he will tell you the story. He's going to visit there again next month as well. There is a pretty good number of deaf people living there as well.

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